Daniel Mason's latest novel, Country People, is a delightful follow-up to his acclaimed North Woods. This time, Mason takes us on a journey from the verdant landscapes of Massachusetts to the enchanting forests of Vermont, exploring the rich tapestry of literature that forms the novel's foundation. At first glance, it may seem like a step back from the epic scope of North Woods, but Mason masterfully reveals that the surface is merely a fraction of the story. The novel is a linear account of a year in the life of a contemporary family, but it's so much more than that. It's a story about stories, a tale about the tales we tell each other, our children, and ourselves. What makes Country People particularly fascinating is how Mason weaves together the mundane and the fantastical, the literal and the metaphorical, to create a rich and layered narrative. The novel's action is driven by its characters' compulsive need to dig deeper, to burrow into their physical and metaphorical landscapes for meaning and inspiration. In my opinion, Mason's ability to balance the esoteric with the mundane is what makes Country People so captivating. The novel is filled with witty and gorgeous prose, and it calls to mind Nabokov's comic masterpiece, Pnin. Personally, I think that Mason's skill in creating a joyful and layered narrative is what makes Country People a true masterpiece. The deeper you dig into the novel, the more joyful it becomes. One thing that immediately stands out is how Mason uses the landscape to enhance the story. Vermont's brooks, conifers, and deep green forests are described as mythic and magical, and the family's new life there is filled with enchantment. However, what many people don't realize is that this enchantment is not just a surface-level phenomenon. It's a reflection of the characters' inner lives and their need to find meaning and inspiration in their surroundings. Miles Krzelewski, the novel's protagonist, is a man given to diving down 'rabbit holes'. He is drawn to the countryside and the people of Vermont, who are as rich and varied as the wildlife. Miles falls in with a band of picturesque eccentrics, each in the grip of their own enthusiasm. Among them are a local exterminator who waxes lyrical about 'Super-Rat-Lines', a biochemist turned orchardist who introduces Miles to the joys of scything, and a scooter-riding photographer of snowflakes. These characters and their enthusiasms are not just a distraction, but a reflection of the human condition. They show us that we are all drawn to something, and that our interests and obsessions are what make us who we are. What this really suggests is that we are all searching for meaning and inspiration in our lives, and that the things we are drawn to are often a reflection of our deepest desires and fears. The novel's epigraphs, taken from Milton, Shakespeare, and Tolstoy, are a reminder of the power of storytelling and the importance of the tales we tell each other. They are a testament to the fact that stories are not just entertainment, but a way of understanding the world and our place in it. In my opinion, Country People is a joyful and layered novel that explores the rich tapestry of literature and the human condition. It is a book that rewards deeper digging, and the more you explore its layers, the more joyful it becomes. So, if you're looking for a novel that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, Country People is a must-read. From my perspective, it is a masterpiece that will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.
